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Bimodal Hearing Aid Fitting Guidelines ABSTR ACT In a bimodal fitting, one ear is stimulated acoustically with a hearing aid and the other is stimulated electrically with a cochlear implant. To bring bimodal benefits to all children and adults with unilateral implants and aidable hearing in the contralateral ear, Oticon has implemented a bimodal fitting guide in the Genie fitting software. As developed by Carisa Reyes, Staff Audiologist at Boys Town National Research Hospital, the bimodal fitting flowchart serves as a guide to clinical audiologists as they navigate the bimodal fitting process. The goal is to provide a logic- and evidence-based method for decision-making, yet keeping in mind the constraints in everyday clinical practice. Based on the latest knowledge on bimodal research, this paper explains the rationale, the recommended strategies, the procedures and the caveats of the bimodal fitting. w h i t e pa p e r 2016 • Candidates for bimodal fitting • When to fit the hearing aid • How to fit the hearing aid for bimodal patients • Bimodal flowchart • Evaluation of benefits • Case Studies Acknowledgments: Thank you to Marc A. Brennan, Ph.D. and Lisa S. Davidson, Ph.D. for reviewing the manuscript. THE TRY IVE RACT L E INT DA O M I B ART WCH FLO The bimodal flowchart takes into account the four fitting approaches: wideband fitting, restricted bandwidth fitting, use of frequency lowering and loudness balancing. The chart is available in Genie when you fit Oticon Dynamo or Sensei Super Power. Carisa Reyes, Au.D., CCC-A. Staff Audiologist at Boys Town National Research Hospital

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